Precooling structure



Dec. 27, 19.27.

' I C. A. MUORE vPRFCOOLING STRUCTURE 2 sheets-sneet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1924 llrlllhlllllE-Imlmllmlmll 'Illl Dec. 27, 1927. .1,654,343

c. A. MOORE PRECOOLING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 24, 419.24 2 sheets-sheet 2 72,4% I] Z3 14, I i -1| a f Il i l e *V j.

56 56 l l im] l 36 m Z l u l 3g I fr .fi 'W' d Q d I si. 1 I A 1% 5,2 50 5 55 9 Madre' Patented. Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. MOORE, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

PRECQOLING STRCTURE,

My invention relates to improvements in refrigerating structures adapted particularly, though not exclusively, for pre-cooling perishable produce preparatory to refrigeration thereof in transit or in prolonged storgAn object of the invention is to supply a structure or apparatus of the present nature, wherein ventilation is effectively and economically combined with refrigeration to the end that treated commodities are not only desirably reduced in temperature for the preservation thereof, but also saved from the deteriorating effect of gases and excessive humidity given off from the commodities in the refrigerating process.

Another object is to provide an' efficient structure of the instant kind, that is simplified and rendered relatively inexpensive 1n construction by a departure from usual practice consisting in an arrangement of the main refrigerating element beneath the coinlnodities to be treated.

A An additional object is to supply a structure, as indicated above, the same being capable of effecting refrigeration and ven-y tilation by gravity alone, a further object being to provide such an arrangement wherein the pre-cooling process may be forced to increase capacity.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and Aarrangement of parts and in the details ofl construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of a structure embodying my invention, the same being taken as on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely of the structure on the'line 3 3 of Fig'. 1 and Fig. 4 is a similar' view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, it will be. observed that the illust-rated embodiment of my invention includes an enclosure consisting of a bottom l0, sidewalls 11, endwalls 12, ceiling 13 and roof 14. A slatted floor 15'is spaced slightly from the bottom. l0 and a vertical partition 16 is spaced slightly from one endwall 12. In the opposite endwall 12 is a door 17. The large vault formed by the floor 15, sidewalls 11, endwall 12, partition 16 and ceiling 13 constitutes a chamber A for provisions which may be placed therein or removed therefrom through the door 17. The space between the bottom l0 and floor 15 comprises a sub-chamber B, the same being in communication with the produce chamber A through the openings ducts. Interposed between the ducts d and upright compartment C and arranged transversely of the produce chamber A is a header-duct e, which is formed in part by the ceiling 13 and the upper margin of the partition 16, the bottom of said header-duct consisting of a panel 21 paralleling the ceiling 13 and the front thereof comprising a panel 22. The ducts ci lead into this headerduct e, communication of the former with the latter being afforded by openings formed in the ends of the front panel 22. Leading from the outside is an air inlet pipe 23 which enters the header-duct e through the roof 111 and ceiling 13, said pi-pe being supplied with a valve or damper 24 for controlling the inflow of fresh air therethrough. Medially of the header-duct e and in that portion of the partition 16 forming the back of the header-duct is a port 25. In this port a blower fan 26 is .disposed so as to draw air from the header-duct c and force it intoA the compartment C. An exhaust conduit g for a refrigerating medium. This pipe 30 extends horizontally along one side of the sub-chan'iber B near the top thereof, thence rises in one end of the compartment C in the form of a reach 31. A return reach 32 closely paralleling said reach 31 feeds back through a return pipe 33 arranged closely parallel to the feed pipe 31. Valred ttings 34 on the feed and return pipes 30, 33, respectively, receive the upper and lower ends of looped branch-pipes 35, which traverse the sub-chamber B and together with said pipes 30, 33 constitute a main refrigerating element. Valved fittings 36 on the feed and return reaches 31, 32 join the ends of looped' branch-pipes 37 therewith, said branch-pipes and reaches constituting a supplementary refrigerating element. The stems 34s? of the fittings 34 may be turned as by means of a socket wrench inserted between the slats of the ioor 15 to selectively cut-in and cut-out the branch-pipes 35. Handled stems 36a on the valve fittings 36 are accessible from the produce chamber A, through a door 16a in the partition 16, and provides'for selectively cutting-in and cutting-out the branch-pipes 37.

With the blower fan 26 idle and the two refrigerating elements in operation, simple refrigerated circulation of air, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1, is had within the structure, the propelling force being set up by gravity in the compartment C. And this circulation mayF be .enhanced by putting the blower fan 26 into operation', as will be readily understood. Fresh air from without'may be admitted through the valved pipe 23 and air may be exhausted through the valved conduit g either from the top of the compartment C, the bottom thereof, or both.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the downward propelling force set up by gravity in the cooling of the air in the compartment C, augmented or not by the blower fan 26, will attract the warmer air from the upper strata of the produce chamber A and forcibly urge the replacement thereof by the colder air from the sub-chamber B. WVith the air-circulating in'this manner and ventilated through the medium of the pipe 23 and conduit g most desirable pre-cooling results are attained.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what isclaimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Ina structure of the class described, a provision chamber, a sub-chamber communicating with the provision chamber through the floor thereof, an upright compartment at one end of the provision chamber communieating at its lower portion with said subchamber, a header-duct traversing the pro'- vision chamber at the upper portion thereof and formed with a port therein opening into said compartment, ducts in the upper portion of the provision chamber adapted to receive air along the lengths thereof and lead the same into saidheader-duct, a fan associated with said port and adapted to draw air from the upper stratum in the produce chamber through said ducts and header-duct and force said air back into the provision chamber at the lower portion thereof through said compartment and sub-chamber, a main refrigerating element spreading through the sub-chamber, an auxiliary rcfrigerating elem-ent spreading through the upright compartment, a valved inlet pipe leading from without the structure into the header-duct, an upright exhaust conduit located in said upright compartment, said conduit having openings thereto, one near the top of the compartment and another near the bottom thereof and, also having an opening therefrom to the. outer air near the bottom of said compartment, and independent dampers arranged to control the passage of air into said conduit from the upper and lower portions of said upright compartment.

2. In a structure of the class described, a provision chamber, a sub-chamber communicat-ing with the provision chamber through the floor of the latter, an upright air passageway communicating with the upper portion of the provision chamber and leading vdownward to said sub-chamber, a main refrigerating element inthe sub-chamber and a supplementary refrigerating element in said upright passageway, the latter element serving to cause the circulation of air through said passageway, sub-chamber and provision chamber and to aid said main refrigerating clement incooling said air. y

3.\In a structure of the class described, a provision chamber, an air passageway underlying the provision chamber and communieating therewith through the floor thereof, a. refrigerating element associated with said passageway for'chilling the air therein, an

upright air passageway leading downward from the upper portion of the produce chamber to said first passageway, and a second refrigerating element associated with said upright passageway and serving to create a circulation of air through said passageways and chamber and to supplement said first refrigerating elementin the cooling of said air. 4. In a structure of the c'lass described, a provision chamber, a sub-chamber communieating with the provision chamber through the floor thereof, a refrigerating element in said sub-chamber, an upright air passageway leading downward from the upper portion of the provision chamber to the sub-chamber,

and a second refrigerating element for cooling the air in said upright passageway, said leading downward from the upper portion of the provision chamber to the sub-chamber, and a second refrigerating element for cooling the air in said upright passageway, a fan associated with said upright passageway and arranged tocause a downward movement of air therethrough.

6. In a structure of the class described, a provision chamber, a sub-chamber communicating with the provision chamber through the Hoor thereof, a refrigerating element in said sub-chamber, an upright air passageway leading downward from the upper portion of the provision'chamber to the sub-chamber, and a second refrigerating element for cooling the air in said upright passageway, a fan associated with said upright passageway and arranged to cause a downward movement of air therethrough, said passageway having communication with the outer air on the pressure side of said fan and also having communication with the outer air on the other side of said fan.

7. In a structure of the class described, a

provision chamber, a sub-chamber communieating with the provision chamber through the floor thereof, a refrigerating element in said sub-chamber, an upright air passageway leading. downward from the upper portion of the provision chamber to the subchamber, and a fan associated with said upright passageway and arranged to cause a downward movement of air therethrough, said passageway having communication at both upper and lower portions thereof with the outer air on the pressure side of the fan and also having communication with the outer air on the opposite side of said fan.

8. In a structure of the class described, a

provision chamber, a sub-chamber communieating with the provision chamber through the iioor thereof, a temperature affecting element in the sub-chamber, an upright `air passageway leading downward fromthe upper portion of the provision chamber to the sub-chamber, a fan associated with said upright passageway and arranged to force a downward movement of air therethrough, said passageway having direct communication with the outer air on the pressure side of said fan and also having communication with the outer air on the opposite side of said fan.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES A. MOORE. 

